Enhancing reviews of psychological treatments with pediatric populations: thoughts on next steps.

OBJECTIVE

To critique the approach used by the Journal of Pediatric Psychology for reviews of empirical support for psychological treatments and provide recommendations to enhance the scientific review of interventions.

METHODS

Application of the Chambless et al. (1996, 1998) criteria to select and describe empirically supported treatments was evaluated from the standpoint of method, theory, and clinical significance.

RESULTS

While reviews of treatments based on the Chambless et al. (1996, 1998) criteria have provided valuable information, they are limited by reliance on statistical significance rather than effect sizes and also need to consider systematically the theoretical and clinical significance of intervention findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Reviews of psychological treatments conducted with pediatric populations would be enhanced by inclusion of information concerning effect sizes, theory specification, and clinical significance. In addition, broadening the focus of initial reviews to include meta-analyses, clinical significance, and theory-guided interventions would enhance the scientific knowledge base of psychological interventions with pediatric populations.